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The Wait Is Over!!!
This is our traditional call out for this time of year.

Yes, it’s getting close, and time to start thinking about Art All Night (click on the logo to go to AAN’s website).

Why? … and for those of you that are new to Pittsburgh, you ask, “umm, OK, why??”

Art All Night, through it’s persistence has really become the official announcement to the start of the Spring/Summer art season in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. You know spring is coming when you start hearing the volunteer calls for Art All night. You know spring is here when you start seeing those Art All Night “calls for artists”. You know one of the main qualities that defines this city is now in full bloom when the first person walks into Art All Night … an sees the defining artistic creativity of the residents of our city. There is nothing better during this time of year to show you a visual definition of “Pittsburgh”. Art All Night has become a staple of the area holding it’s artists together every year. Click Here to read the rest of the article on Sophisticated Pittsburgh.

Hello SWB readers, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Karyon Nightly, one of the writers for the website http://www.sophisticatedpittsburgh.com. Since we are taking control of SWB, I wanted to let you in on what we are planning on doing to move the site into something that can accompany S.P. as a blog. SWB has a strong sarcastic and cynical side to it as most of the rant blogs did that started out around the mid 2000’s. SWB will be that part of S.P. for those little sarcastic articles that we want to have fun with, but may not want to publish on the main site. Here is what we are planning so far (there are many minds at work, so this may change from time to time):

We will be deleting any blog entries from SWB that may have too strong of an opinion, or quite frankly don’t any longer apply to issues in the city.

We will be toning down the sarcasm and strong opinions – we are not censoring, but challenging our writers to be as effective as SWB was, but with more creativity and good writing.

Although sarcastic, cynical, and a little ranty … we want to try to make our articles readable by all Pittsburghers and outsiders.

Keep in mind, just because we are making SWB a little nicer to fit in with Sophisticated Pittsburgh, that doesn’t mean if you deserve a slap to the face we won’t give it anymore.

We’ll still cover things like Pittsburgh politics, The Steelers, The penguins, enjoyable moments from the council, the Strip District, the wonderful roads, etc, etc.

This is for the good. After being inactive for a while, another site has inquired about taking over Screaming Weasel. There will be changes, it will retain some of the sarcasm, but will lose some of the “rantiness” and negativity that it had when it started around 2005-2006 and rant blogs were the fad – although we will gripe a little through it, and SWB will be the occasional guest writer.

Yep, we won again. Being the courteous people that Pittsburghers are, we gave them a link of Parma Sausage and a cheese sampler from Penn Mac as a consolation prize. We believe them a worth opponent, but not good enough to get that cool metal trophy we’ll put on out shelves.

We’re on the way to Super Bowl 45, Ben could bring in the Steeler’s 7th ring in his 7th season, by number 7. Think of the lottery possibilities here folks. This is an important win for the city – it will bring even more international recognition of our city, the sport of American football, and people. The more people come to our city, the more jobs come with them. Considering that, even if you aren’t a sports fan, you might want to start rooting for The Steelers to get ring 7.

I love food, cool art, and the sound of live brass – so booths full of chili, original artists, and a mariachi band made my day (along with seeing allot of friends on a great sunny day).

The event took place on upper 27th street in SouthSide works with the bands close to the courtyard. The artists we occupying the old Joseph-Beth storefront. Booths full of chili were just everywhere!

Oh … did I say booths full of chili were just everywhere?!?!?!

We expected the event to be slightly different and have a higher level of “cool” than your standard issue chili festival, and it was.

Here is what we found:

Out of all the chili’s in competition, almost all tended to show a higher level of culinary skill put into their creations. There were maybe one or two that were mediocre – but that may be more because of our personal tastes than anything.

The bands were excellent, and the mariachi band definitely set the tone for the event. Heavy kudos to them for pulling out a two hour set. Music levels were loud enough to feel the music, but not drive you to the end of the street – good for everyone. We recommend having the bands again … and keeping whatever techs were hired.

Thanks to Carrie Nardini and I Made It! Market … that art was great! I Made It! never ceases to amaze SWB with the originality and diversity of the artists participating in their events. Watch out Three Rivers … we like ya, but Carrie and I Made It! are coming up with goods and the coolness.

The ticketing, tasting, artist areas, etc were all very well planned out and easy to get through even with the very heavy crowd.

Overall the event run by the SouthSide Works crew was well thought out, family friendly, and gave every reason to add it to your yearly “attend this” list.

But, most importantly …

Who won the chili contest?

According to a text from Pam at SSW – Tusca Global Tapas and Chef Jeff.

When we tasted Tusca’s chili, we found it to be unique and not standard, but well made enough to rank highly with competition event chili’s … and in the end they showed their skills in that. SWB didn’t expect any less from Tusca, as the culinary capabilities of those that work there are proven time and time again.

-SWB

PS – We were impressed enough with the event so we are adding it to SWB Recommends … and we hope to see it back next year.

No, we’re not talking about work or construction blooming in the city … but the trees are opening up in full bloom. It’s one of the few times you can imagine the city as a welcoming garden.

It’s also a reminder that the Spring Show at Phipps has started. We don’t have any pics here, but it looks great and you need to check it out. Many changes have happened at Phipps over the last few years, along with the Presidential visit … which makes the show much different this year. It’s worth taking it in. The outside of Phipps should be getting into bloom now too, which makes for the overall experience of the Conservatory spill out from inside the glass walls. Where else can you experience a rain forest without fighting off massive bugs? The Butterfly Forest will also be showing up April 24th – a reason to go back after seeing the Spring Show.

-SWB

PS – I’m sure if you really want large bugs as part of your Phipps Rain Forest experience, and you donate a large sum to the conservatory – they’ll make an effort to find a few over sized mosquitoes to accommodate your needs.

You get everything there that you could possibly want: Good food that’s probably really bad for you, imported beers, loud entertainment, oh – and did I say good food that’s probably bad for you?

You can’t go wrong by going to a Chili Fest.

Now, one of the hottest spots in Pittsburgh, SouthSide Works, has popped their own into place with a full compliment of I Made It! Market artists brought in by Carrie Nardini, Live Entertainment and Kid’s Korner brought in by SouthSide Work’s marketing director Pamelyn McMahon, and much more! It’s a Pittsburgh cool and chic chili fest for the whole family! The date is April 10th this year (2010).

This is another event by the folks that brought you SouthSide Work Exposed (less me … I opted out of Exposed a few years ago), so it’s bound to be cool.

Quickie List Of Events:

Chili Tasting (if you haven’t figured that out)

Mariachi Fiesta Band

I Made It! Market Artists

Kid’s Korner

* Click on the schedule icon above to go to the actual events website.

-SWB

PS – Even if you aren’t the beer drinking, chili pounding partier that everyone thinks goes to chili festivals – go anyway and support I Made It! Market (these are the artists that make changes and the cool stuff you have in your homes). If you don’t have any of their cool stuff in your homes … BUY SOME!

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All works copyright 2000 - 2010 Lawrence A Capozzolo unless otherwise stated. Offenders will be forced to wash my car and clean up after my dogs.
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